The best way to begin your career as an Electrician is to enter into an apprenticeship program with one of the local unions based out of Ontario, Canada. Becoming a trainee electrician is a great way to gain on the job skills and knowledge while still making money. Rather than attending a school you are able to get hand-on knowledge of how real Electricians work and you actually get paid to do it. On average new Electricians in Ontario make 50% of what their Journeyman Electrician counterparts do.
Getting Started
The first step to becoming an electrician apprentice is to contact your local Electricians Union and inquire about their apprenticeship program. In order to be accepted as an trainee you will need to have graduated Grade 12 or have a GED equivalent. It’s also important that you have a strong understanding of math and algebra as mathematical knowledge is very important to becoming a successful electrician. Once you’ve been accepted into your electrician training in Ontario it will be time for the real work to begin.
On average, electrician training lasts somewhere between 3 and 5 years depending on the terms of the contract and the amount of work available. As an electrician you be learning from a master electrician and will be involved in all aspects of the job. Some of the tasks you will need to carry out include; hauling gear, running wires and cables through walls and floors, installing fuse boxes, installing lighting fixtures, and doing general electrical maintenance and repairs.
Over the course of your practical education you will need to complete 9,000 hours of work as well as progress through 3 levels of training (Basic – 8 weeks, Intermediate – 10 weeks, Advanced – 10 weeks). Once your training is over you will be able to take the Electricians license exam in order to become a Journeyman electrician in Ontario.